Minutes - Council - 04/27/1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

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project is increasing the chance of children getting hurt or killed plus putting in townhomes will add more children and then those children will be at risk too. Ms. Kalstabakken asked why would the City want to run the risk of inner-city problems to this area where it's already residential homes. Ana Nelson, 5470 - 149th Lane NW, Ramsey, stated that presently, she has view of wildlife, trees, etc., and she expected that she would have the view of other houses, similar to hers. They would be homes that were owned by people who worked hard to have a home. She thought there was no threat of multiple family homes or high traffic streets in her area. She stated that no where was it mentioned about the Sunwood Drive extension or the low income townhomes. She felt that an Environmental Assessment Worksheet should be done. People need to be responsible for the Rum River. This will cause dire changes to the wetland and there is eminent death of the wildlife from the new road plus the snowmobiles will have an improvement access. The wetland will be a receptacle for garbage and pollutants. Rob Kalstabakken, 5571 Sunwood Drive NW, stated that there was mention of townhomes, but then it turned into subsidized, low-income, rental townhomes. No one knew anything about that. He felt that renting versus owning is a big deal. "It would be okay if it was a standard group of people who are middle income like us." He asked why cause the uneasy tension. You are putting them into these homes and our community will feel something against them. We are established - move them to a non-developed area, or somewhere there are apartments or by the industrial or commercial. Then if someone wants to build a house by them, that's their choice. The City is not giving us a choice. He suggested there are issues of house resale value, etc. With the road, will come increased traffic - and who is responsible for that. We will be assessed for the road and no one even wants it. Mr. Kalstabakken pointed out that there are so many people against this project. Sometimes the City does not think of the negative impact of things they do. If it's money the City needs, he suggested the City could boost the taxes $20 per year, per household. "Take our money but not our wetlands or our children". He added that the City needs to separate the bike path from the road. Ann Shindel, 14970 Argon Street NW, stated that she just heard about these projects last Friday evening. It's the responsibility of the City Council to notify residents of issues such as this. Residents should be able to speak to this. We did not move into this town to live next door to low income housing. We have a right to know what's happening in the town we pay taxes in. Dean Abatte, 5970 - 146th Avenue NW, posed questions as follows: 1) How is Section 8 housing going to benefit Ramsey; 2) Is there any research done on the same or similar projects that show what impact Section 8 has on the City; 3) How would this affect the property value, the Fire Department and the Police Department. He added that he moved here from North Minneapolis and he felt he was lucky to get out of there alive. Mayor Gamec stated that it disturbs him when people talk about those less fortunate. He stated he has been in Ramsey for 27 years and has been proud of this community, City Council/April 27, 1999 Page 4 of 25